Apparatus for handling solid materials



Sept. 9, 1930. F. B. ALLEN APPARATUS FOR HANDLING SOLID MATERIALS Filed Oct. 7; 1927 VIIIIIIIII/IIIII em m A; IORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES FRANK B. ALLEN, OF LOWER MARION VANIA, ASSIGN OR, BY MESNE ASSIGNM TOWNSHIP, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYL- ENTS, TO THE ALLEN-SHERMAN-HOII' COI- PANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 01 PENNSYLVANIA APPARATUS FOR HANDLING SOLID MATERIALS v Application filed 0mm 7, 1927. Serial No. 224,557.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling solid material and more particularly to sluiceways along which solid materials are carried by fluid streams.

Sluiceways may conveniently be employed for removing ashes from boiler hoppers and for other purposes, but it has been found that when these are applied, for example, to boiler plants situated only above the level of a closely situated body of'water, and particularly where the water line is subject to fluctuations such as tides, it is often diflicult to keep water from at times 'backing up in the sluiceway. It has further been found that when water does back up in such a sluiceway, particles of ash, slag, and the like will be washed into the nozzles and into the water delivery line, causing the same to clog and to wear unduly, and producing other disadvantages.

An object of the present invention is to provide a system for conveying solid materials along a sluiceway which will be free from the disadvantages attendant to prior types of apparatus used for this purpose.

Other objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention will be better understood from the description of one practical embodiment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

The figure is a central vertical sectional view, taken along the center line of a sluiceway provided with apparatus embodying the invention.

The apparatus as shown is applied for conveying ashes discharged from two hoppers A and B of boiler furnaces or the like. Each hopper is provided, at its bottom, with two discharge openings having movable gates 1, 2, 3, and 4 which control the discharge of ashes therethrough. The ashes drop upon feed plates 5, 6, 7 and 8, along which they are moved by jets of water or the like issuing from nozzles 9, 10, 11 and 12 to central discharge openings 13 and 14, through which they pass to the interior of a sluiceway 15, comprising an outer shell 16 and an inner lining 17 of cast iron or the like. This sluiceway extends substantially horizontally from beneath the discharge openings to a sump 18, in which the solid material may be allowed, if desired, to it may be removed by any suitable conveying means, such as for instance a clam shell bucket not shown).

Distri uted along the bottom of the sluiceway are nozzles 19 by which a fluid conveying stream is delivered which it is directed therealo'ng toward the sump 18. These nozzles are connected to a supply line 20 which may be connected to the discharge 21 of a pump 22 positioned in a well 23 adjacent sump 18, from which it may draw its supply of water.

If only the parts thus far described were used, and the water from some outside source were to back up into the sump and raise its water level above the bottom of the'sluice, this water would, when the jets are not being operated, flow back into the jets and supply lines, carrying with its particles of ash and slag which would tend to clog the nozzles of the pipe and, being highly abrasive, would wear the discharge openings of the nozzles when passing therethrough. Moreover, this flowing of the fluid back into thefnozzles would be assisted by a suction caused in the supply line 20 due to the water flowing back through discharge-21 to the pump when the latter ceases operation.

To prevent any flow. of water into the nozzles, a check valve 24, which is arranged so as to close upon the application of pressure to supply line and to open upon any suction occurring in the line, is connected to the line. This serves as a vent, and, as soon as the porn is stopped, opens and allows the water to ow out through the nozzles into the sluiceway,'instead of flowing back to the pump, the entire line or as much of it as is above the water line, and filled with. air.

By so venting the line, I find that all backfiow through the nozzles is eliminated, and of course, the disadvantages attendant upon such back flow are also eliminated.

While I have disclosed the illustrated embodiment of my invention'in some particularity, obviously many other embodiments will readily occur to those skilled in the art to settle and from which being emptied of water to the sluiceway and by which this appertains, and I do not therefore limit myself to the precise details shown 7 and described, but claim as my invention all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for handling solid materials which comprises a sluice, jets adapted to deliver a stream of liquid to the interior thereof, a supply line above and connected to the jets and adapted to be connected to a source of liquid pressure, the suppl line being provided with a vent above t e jets, and valve means for closing the vent, said means closable by liquid pressure in'the supply line and adapted to open upon withdrawal of the pressure whereby li uid between the vent and the jets is drained t rough the jets.

2. Apparatus for handling solid materials which comprises a sluice, jets adapted to deliver a stream of liquid to the interior thereof, a supply line above and connected to the jets, means for supplying liquid under pres-- sure to the sup 'ly line, and a check valve disposed above t e jets and connected to the supply line adapted to be closed by the applicatlon of liquid pressure to the interior of o the supply line and adapted to admit air thereinto when the pressure is released'whereby liquid between the valve and jets is drained through the jets.

3. Apparatus for handling solid materials which comprises a sluice, jets for delivering liquid to the interior thereof, a supply line above and connected to deliver liquid to the jets, a pump adapted to discharge into the supply line and having an intake communicat ing with the sluice for supplying liquid under pressure to the line, and a check valve connected to the supply line above the jets closable by liquid pressure within the line and adapted to admit air therein when the pressure is released whereby liquid in the line is drained through the jets.

4. Apparatus for handling solid materials which comprises a sluice, jets for delivering liquid to the interior thereof, a supply line above and connected to the. jets, and. a check valve di osed exteriorly of and connected to the supp y line above the jets, elosable by H uid pressure within the supply line and a apte to admit air into the line when the pressure is released.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 4th day of October, 1927.

- RANK B. ALLEN. 

